Jamie xx has taken almost a decade since the release of his solo debut. "In Waves" is the second album by the Londoner, who with his band The xx is one of the most influential figures in recent music history. Once again, he gives free rein to his love of electronic music and creates the story of a night in which you dive into the heavenly pulse of shadow, light and dancefloor rhythms. "In Waves" has its origins in a mix that Jamie made for BBC Radio 1 in 2020. In addition to tracks from the current generation of UK dance music, various musical heroes such as Roy Ayers, Fela Kuti, Tom Zé and Philip Glass also made an appearance. The first versions of songs that will now appear on the album could also be heard. "It reminded me why I love this music," says Jamie, who had previously struggled for a long time with the question of what to do next. "I just found myself enjoying the creative process without thinking about an outcome." On "In Waves", Jamie xx plows through the subgenres and decades and combines Northern Soul, Disco, Garage, Acid House, Techno, Tropicalia, Hip-Hop, Funk and the sound of the UK Underground Pirate Radios. The small moments are as impressive as the overarching whole. Take the part in "Treat Each Other Right", the new single released alongside the album announcement, for example: first you are torn out of the broad breakbeat-meets-future-soul vehicle, only to suddenly find yourself back in the medium wave radio of the 60s with the pitched Motown vocals. The words "I'll never let you down" are dragged into eternity before a bouncing pulse sets in over atmospheric synths and you are led straight back into the sweaty catharsis of the dancefloor. In the age of algorithms, "In Waves" is a testimony to pure human feeling, a life-affirming antidote that takes you into another dimension via headphones and at the same time wants to be experienced together on the dance floor. Romy and Oliver, The Avalanches, Robyn and John Glacier are among the artists on the album.